Time-of-flight clock



H. C. FORD.

TIME 0F FLIGHT CLCK.

APPLlcArlon man :uw 3. |918.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IN VENTOR imliwmllllllllliiiir H. C. FORD.

TIME 0F FLIGHT CLOCK.

APPLlcAmu msn JULY a. :91s.

1,355,829. Patented oct. 19,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTU/PNE HANiiIIBAL c. rom), or

JAniaIoA, NEW Yonx.

Turner-FLIGHT onocx.

' incarnatie!francisraam.l` Patented 00u19, 1920.

` Application tiled Iul 3; 1918. Serial No. 253,146. A

To ,all whom it may concem.:

Be it known that I. HAXXIBAL C: FORD, a v citizen of the L'nited States. residin at g Jamaica. in the borough of ueens, btate of .Yew York, have invented Inew and useful Improvements in rTiilxie-of-Flifht C locks', ot which the following is a spec ic'ation.

This invention relates to time of ight clocks or more particularlyoI acluock for sounding an alarm to announce to a spotter or other observer, when he `ma v expect Aa projectile which -is fired at a known range or gun elevation t reach its target. so that' he may concentrate his attention and 'determine whether the1proj`ectile hits the target. or the amount by which it misses it.

One` object of the invention i's to provide an instrument of'this character which is of a simple construction and which is so constructed that direct readings of range or angular elevation of the gun may be utilized in setting the clock for a corresponding time of Hight. y

Another. object of the invention is to provide an alarm controlling device which may be easily setfto sound an alarm at the end of one or a plurality 'of time intervals, and which is automatically reset after the alarm has been actuated so that it will not again actuatethe alarm.

Other objects of the invention will beap- Y. parent :from the detailed description hereinafter' to follow when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and will'- be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. l g

In the drawingst-f v 4 Figure 1shows ahace view of a clock con- L structed in. accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through Fig. 1

- on the line 22. the alarmcontrolling disk bein shown in full ';V g

F1g..3 is a plan of the clock removed from the casing. showing` also the inside face of 4 the cover plate;

i `cam for the pins and Fig. 4 is a detail showing there-setting Fig. 5 is a detail setting the pins. i

The clock is inclosed within a water-tight casing consisting of thebody part 1 and a cover plate 2, the cover plate being provided with a flange 3 which fits inside of the upper ledge of the casing 1 and forms a tight joint' at this point. Riveted to the bottom of the showing the bar for by a -closed in Fi casing amine-r 6 (see ig. 3), when the alarm actuating device of theclock mechanism is ptginto action. The frame 7 of the clock mechanism is secured to the cover 2 by means of post's 8 and straps 9.' This frame, as is the usual ractice. consists of two plates 10 and 1 which are s spaced relation by posts '12. l ounted between these plates is ,a clock mechanismof a known t) Je, comprising a barrel 13 which incloses. t e power spring (not shown).'

The barrel 13V carries a gear 14 which actuates a train of gears, the speed of rotation of the gears b eln-g controlled by a balance wheel 15', forming a partof the usual type of clock 'escapement A This gear train actuates an alarm controllingdisk 15, thegear ratios being such that ipported in 1, as at 4, is a. ong 5 which is struck this disk referablv makes one revolution a minute. he clock ates an alarm device which is controlled b r a detent wheel 16 driven by the clock mechanism. which wheel is normally lield'against rotation by a detent 17 which is mounted upon a rocker 'shaftA 18. This shaft carries the hammer lever 19. 'One toothI 17' ofthe detent 17 normally prevents'the detent wheel 16 from .rotating when the lever 19 is held against movement. When, however, the controlling arm 19 is free to oscillate, the spring tension upon` the detent wheel 16 is suicient to throw the tooth 17 out of engagement with the detent wheel 16 and rmit' its rotation.

,The teeth 17L and 17" will then alt/ernatebv engage the teeth of the detent wheel yand cause an oscillation of the controlling lever 19 and also ofthe hammer 6 which strikes the gong and sounds' the alarm.A These oscillaheld stationary in a position in which the tooth 17 engages one ofl the teeth of the detent wheel and prevents its further rota tionf. T,he controllinglever 19 is normally tions will 'continue until the lever 19fis again mechanism also actu'- 6 and also an alarm controlling held against movement and in a position iny which the tooth .17L engages the ratchet wheel 16 by a pivoted lever 20, one end wliichnormally abuts aga-inst an upturned end 21 of the controlling 'lever`19. as'disg. 3. -When` however, this lever 20 is moved in this view, the end 21of the controlling lever 19 will .be free and hence the alarm' will be actuated as described. The' lever 20 is adapted to bedisplaced to its dotted line of A to its dottedline position, shownr position by the alarm controlling disk 1 5, which as before stated, is driven so that 1t makes one complete revolution in one minute. The disk carries a plurality of pins 22 which lit loosely into holes in the, disk adjacent to its periphery and are of a len h greater than the thickness of the disk. he pins f are held, against displacement by a coiled sprin 24 which fits in`a groove in the peri 'heral aceA of the disk, the pins passing etween the helic l JcoilsI of ,the spring and the friction whic is ,thus placed lipon them bein sullicient to revent them from -being ina vertently disp aced andy yet pershoul be displaced to its range and mit them to be ositively moved in either direction and helId in the position to which they are moved. In the embodiment shown, sixty pins are utilized and since 'the disk makes one revolution a-minute, the space bef.

tweenadjacent pins equals the displacement of the disk in one second.

As -Willbe clear from Fig. 3, the'lever 20 is provided with a lug 26 which, when the pins are in their normal position, is dis osed beneath the pins, the lever bein un er 'the tension of a spring 20l whic normally holds it against the end of a resettin 6am 27. If, however, one of the pins lower position, as is' shown in Fi'. 4 or Fig. 5, this pin will then engage t e lug 26 tothrow the lever-20 against the spring 20, toits dotted line position and the alarm controlling lever 19 will then be free to oscillate and sound the alarm. After the pins have been displaced-they are returned to their normal position by means of the resetting can127 which is shown in Fig. 4, the cam having an inclined surface against which the J ride as the disk actuates, `which forces t iein upwardly to their normal position, where they remain until again positively dis` placed.

, Referring now to the mechanism for dislacing the pins, which permits the alarm to sounded at any desired time interval correspondin to thetime of flight oflaprojectile: ounted upon the cover 2 )of the clock is a disk 30 wlich is provided with two scales, the scale, 31 being a range scale This disk'30 ma also ca a sca e 32 of gun-elevation uw ich is calibrated in terms of theV corresponding time of lliglitsvof a projectile.. In the emb'odi-` ment shown the scales are calibrated for a 12 gun havin an initial velocity of 2 700 ft. sec. For caglibrating these scales, since the diskj15 makes one revolution in a minnte, the circumferencev 0f the dials is divided into 60 seconds and the Vvalues of n elevation corresponding to time of li tsand seconds, are aidxout` von the dial. he scales are-readfrom a E xed pointer 33. The disk 'nsts upon an oiled ins i tacts 60 and 61 which are norma felt pad 34 (see .Fi 2) which makes the ,as at 37 and carries a pin setting bar 39 which is provided With'a V-shaped setting end 40. his Setting .bar is carried by a plunger 41 within thesleeve 36 which extends above the knob 35 and is adapted to be manuell' pressed downwardly and to be returnedY to itsnormal position by a ggerring to Fig. 5, the manner in which the setting bar 39 actuates the pins, is clearly disclosed. The knife edge of the V-shaped end 40 of the setting bar when the plunger 41 is pressed downwardly, is moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 and presses against one of the pins to also displace it. It is also evident from this figure that if the plunger 41 should be held in its displaced position, the inclined surface of the V-shaped end 40 willy act as a cam1 similar to .the cam 27 and as the pins move into .contact with it, they will be successively dis laced.'

he clock is 'controlled by a .knob 50, marked the Stop and run knob. This knob is mounted upon a shaft 50 which passes throu h the cover plate and carries a linger 51 Ysee Fi' 3), which finger enages a sprin 54 w ich normally acts as a rake upon t e staff 15" of the balance wheel 15' to prevent its rotation but is moved out of engagement -with the stall` by the li r 51 when the knob 50 is turned to its run position.

The alarm device is controlled by a knob 55 marked Alarm and Silent which is clearly disclosed in Fig. 2, consisting of a shaft 56 which carries at its end a disk 57, havin a llattenedportion 58. As will be clear rom. Fig. 2, this disk is arranged in the path of the upturned end 21 of the alarm control lever 19. When the flattened portion 58 is adjacent to the end 21, sufficient space is provided to ermit the lever 19 to oscillate freely. en, however, this knob 55 is turned so that the round edge of the disk is adjacent to the end 21, the oscillations of the alarm lever 19 are checked, which will prevent the alarm from being sounded, since the hammer 6V, will be prevented fromstriking the gong. y

If desired, an electrical alarm device may be utilized which comprises two spring conly out of enga ment and are carried by an insulating b ook 62. These contacts am connected by wires 63 and 64 to two terminals 65, which are rovidedwith sockets to receive 'acks or pl ugs, which would be connected b' wires to, any suitable annunciator, shown dla ammatically in Fig. 1. c,

e` clock is wound by a' key 66 ,of the usual construction which key engages the square shaft "67 to wind the spring within i the barrel.13.

n so

.- alarm actuatinglever 19 to 'independently of the settin 20A `pass over l The plunger Al1 tion of the To` initially adjust the clock,the knob is turned in a counterclockwise direction until the V-shapedend ofthe settingl bar 39 engagesthe pi`n- 68, which is shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines 1n Fig. 1. Inkthis position of the setting bar 39 the knife ed e 40 is directly over the`p1n 22 (shown in g.3). The set screw 36 is then loosened and the dial 30 is turned bar until the zero aduation on the. sc with t e pointer 33. The set screw is again tightened and the dial and knob 35 will `thereafter rotate with the setting bar 39.

The operation of the c'locl is as follows The Stop and run knob is turned release' the 'brake'l and the clock train will then rotate the wheel 15 in atcounterclockwise direction (see Eig.i3)t While the pins 22 rem'ain in their normal'position, the lever 20 will`not be actuated since these pins will e `lug 26without cogiin 1 nto contact therewith. Assuming now t at a gun hasbeen elevated for a range of 15,000 yds.'and that it is desired to set the clock to -warn the observer of the impact of a shell fired from the, gunt-The knob 35 is then 4turned in a clockwise direetionjas in F ig.'

1) until the graduation designated 15,0() yds. appears opposite the pointer 33. This will also carry the setting bar. 39 with 1t. is then pressed downwardly y'when the gun is fired and the-setting bar 40 'will then engage one of the pins 22 and, as shown in Fi'g. 3, the pin which is dis aced, being. designated 22. The continue rotaf disk -will carry the displaced pin 22 in a counterclockwise ,direction shown in Eig.1 3) untilfit reaches the position designated by,22" at which instant o time it ivill actuate 'theulever 20 and releasethe sound an alarm two or three seconds prior to the time of .Hight oa projectile 'whose range is 15,000

server will therefore be warned tolook for and determine the point'of impact-'of the pro'ecile ,1 ll'hen'tlis-dsired to set the 4clock for a -time of flight correspondingto any other range the .dial .turned until this` range appears on the scales opposite the pointer 3 and thel plungerfil is a e 31 coincides seconds. The spotter or ob- The clock may also be used when the shots from the gun or guns follow each other in close succession, since b v pressing the plunger ,il each time a shot or Jrojectile is fired,

thealarm will beactuatec at the end ofa time of flight correspondingr to the different `shots \vhich,'although not distinguishable. will warn the spotter when each one lof the projectiles is about to reach the target.

Iciaimz, cl 1. In atime of flight clock, Van alarm, a -timc vcontrolled device for controlling the actuation of said alarm and means, including'a scale calibrated in.terms of range, for setting said time controlled device to actuate said alarm at the'` end, of a time interval J slightly less than the time of flight of a projectile from a gun elevated fora corresponding range. A'

2. Ina time of flight clock, an alarm, a time controlled device for controlling the actuation of said alarm and means, including "a scale calibrated in terms .of n elevation. for setting said time contro led detime interval slightly less than the timeof flight of a projectile from a gun elevated for a corresponding range.

3. In an alarm device, a time controlled rotary part, a plurality' of r displaceable .members carried by' said. part, means for displacingsaid members at various positions in' their rotary path, and an alarm device actuated by each of said'members when displaced,` and means for re-setting said members.

4. In en alarm device, a time controlled rota-ry, part, a plurality of displaceable members carried by saidpart, means for se lectively displacingsaid members, at various points in their.r rotary path, an alarm controlling device actuated by each ,of said members when "displaced and a resetting cam arranged in thepath ofsaid members for retiirning them to their normal positions. 5. In any alarm device, a time controlled rotary parity` a plurality of displaceable members `carried by said part, a rotary member having a displaceable partada ted to 1 engage each Qne'o saidl members -to isplace said member when said rotary' part is displaced, andfa re-setting cam for returning said members to their normal sitions. i tr. In an alarm device, a` time controlled rotary part, a plurality of displaceable pins carried by said part, a friction ip for each of said pms for holding them either in their normal or displaced position, a rotary part or displacing said pms and an alarm con-- vice to actuate said alarm at the end of a ing;r said pins and frictionally. holding them in their normal or displaced ositions, a rotary member carrying a bodiV y displaceable setting bar for' dis lacin said pins, an alarm device uctuate by said pins. when dis-v placed, and means for re-setting the pins after being displaced. l

8'. In a time' of Hight clock, a. time controlled rotary part, a plurality of'displaceable pins carried bysaid part, means for frictionally holding saidu pins in their normal or displaced positions, a rota`i -member'- carrying? a time of iight sc e callbrabed in terms of range, a displaceabl settin bar carried by said rotary member for splacing l said pins, an alarm` device tuatedby a.

frictionally holding said pins in their nox'-y mal or displaced positions, a rotarymember carrying 'a time of lig'htscale calibrated in terms of gun elevation a displaoeable setting bar carried by sai displacingsaid pins, an ated by a displacedlpin, setting lthe pins when dis laced,

V C. FORD.

alarm device acturotary member fo`r and means. for re- 

